The vast majority of you reading this post will never face homelessness, but the sad reality is that in the United States alone, over half a million people will face homelessness tonight. According the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, in 2009 about 672,000 people experienced homelessness each night, 42% of which had no shelter. 37% were families, most commonly single mothers with a child or two.
Fortunately we have seen an abundance of homelessness innovations geared at solving the issue in urban settings, empowering the homeless and giving the voice, and making nights on the street more bearable. Among the homelessness innovations are creative guerilla ads to drive awareness, soup kitchens for pets, barista training for homeless youth, buy-one-give one comforters, and an errand running service designed to employ the homeless. There is also plenty of photography, taken to share stories and drive awareness.
67 Homelessness Innovations
66
Real-Life Street Kid Portraits
Photographer Adam Taylor Takes Portraits of NYC Street Kids
65
Mobile Homeless Homes
The Paul Elkins Shelter is Almost Too Cozy Looking
64
Sturdy Refugee Residences
The NIDO Portable Shelter is an Efficient, Effective Homeless Refuge
63
Penniless Promotions
Homeless Branded as Living Advertisements
62
Cardboard Origami Shelters
The Tine Hovsepian 'Cardborigami' Unfolds for the Homeless
61
Humanizing Street Shoots
Alex Welsh Exposes the Struggles of the Impoverished
60
Credit Crunch Prefabs
The L41 Home is Designed for Uneasy Economic Times
59
Guerilla Socialvertising
The Alex Seo Crisis Campaign Creates Awareness Through Startling Imagery
58
Homeless Photographers
The Trecho 2.8 Project Turns the Lens onto Another Reality
57
Cuddly Collapsable Igloos
The Georgi Djongarski I-Gloobox for Vagabonds is a Luxury Street Home
56
Homeless Hipster Shoots
The Original Hipster is a Social Commentary on Wealth and Class
55
Multipurpose Portable Shelters
The Famiglia Grande Helps Families on Their Road to Recovery
54
Egg Shaped Eco Abodes
Daihai Fei Builds a Sustainable Mobile Home in Beijing
53
Sinking Street Ads
The SAMU Social Campaign Brings Awareness to Homelessness
52
Homeless Sleeping Pods
The Urban Catepillar by Abby Brazier Shelters the Less Fortunate
51
Inflatable Homeless Shelters
The ParaSITE Project
50
Incisive Homeless Portraits
Oak Thitayarak's 'Walk On By' Series is Poignantly Real
49
Street Life Awareness Campaigns
Jan Moucha's Subversive Homelessness Posters
48
AIDS Art Shelters
The Social Art Box Project By Aakash Nihalani in NYC
47
Poverty-Focused Graffiti
Michael Aaron Williams Comments on the Global Homeless Epidemic
46
Activist Street Art
Fauxreel's 'The Unaddressed' Addresses Homelessness in Toronto
45
Tents on Wheels
Journeyman Mobile Shelter Bicycle Trailers Offer Tow-Behind Shelter
44
Guerrilla Poverty Ads
Homeless Father Bob Bins
43
Homeless-Care iPhone Apps
The iHobo App Gives You a New Perspective on Street-Living
42
Versatile Homeless Shelters
Veronika Scott Creates a Wearable Shelter for Those Who Need it Most
41
Pavement Bedsheets (UPDATE)
The Le-Trottoir Lets You Experience Homelessness at Home
40
One for One Blankets
The Company Store Gives Comforters to Homeless Children
39
Alternative Homeless Shelters
The EDAR Project Provides Mini Mobile Units
38
Soup Kitchens for Pets
The Animal Board
37
Vagabond Villas
Beautiful Spring Gardens is a Scintillating Shelter for the Homeless
36
Heartbreaking Homeless Robot Sculptures
'No-Botty' by David Emmite Predicts Bleak Machine Futures
35
Homeless Kidtography
'Abandoned' by Coral Fletcher Captures an Orphaned Child
34
Guerrilla Campaign for Homeless
Vitae Shelters
33
Heat Map of the Homeless
Can You Say Big Brother?
32
Traffic Cone Stages
Hedgehog Concert Pavilion Raises Awareness to Youth Homelessness
31
A mobile "home" for the homeless
they deserve some design too!
30
Heartfelt Personalized Art Kits
'Chloe's Magic Box' by Samia Kallidis Gives Hope to Homeless Kids
29
The Urban Shell Shelter for the Homeless
28
Homeless Emotionography
Keith Harris Looks Into the Souls of the Unfortunate in ‘On the Stre
27
Education Springboards
Juma Ventures Helps Youth in California Enter College
26
Homeless Bedtography
Ryann Ford's 'Where the Homeless Sleep' Shoot for Twelve Baskets Magazine
25
Charitably Chic Pieces
KNO Clothing is a One-for-One Donating Attire for Every Purchase Made
24
Vagabond Ventures
Swags for Homeless Supplies Displaced Residents with Mobile Housing
23
Homeless Internet Sensations
Panhandler Ted Williams Beats the Streets from One Viral Video
22
Graffitisements
Street Art Used in Canadian Youth Services Centre Ads
21
Pedal-Powered Libraries
Street Books Delivers Literature to Portland's Homeless
20
Cardboard Box Beds
Nikolay Suslov Designs for Nomads and the Homeless
19
Foreign Homeless Photomentaries
Christian Burkert Captures Homelessness in an Immaculate Culture
18
Street-Smart Campaigns
The Homeless Banner Campaign by Garbergs Brings Shelter to Those in Need
17
Virtuously Veritable Dining
The Hoxton Apprentice Serves Feel-Good Meals
16
Challenge-Based Charity Sites
'Do Whatever It Takes' Site Has People Doing Anything for Pledges
15
Online Promos for Panhandlers
"Pimp This Bum!" Helps Houston Homeless Man
14
Street Kid Barista Schools
Homeless Youth Get a Shot at Coffee-Making Jobs
13
Social Street Papers
Real Issues Magazine Empowers Communities Marginalized by Poverty
12
Homeless Cocoon Shelters
This Nifty Hwang Kim Design Offers Discrete, Portable Outdoor Protection
11
Globetrotting Hobotography
Mike Stewart Photographs the World's Homeless
10
Microloans for Homelessness?
Beyond the Cardboard Shares Stories, Interviews and Resources
9
Homeless Public Transit
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Gives Homeless Free Rides
8
Robots For The Homeless
Transformer Guerrilla Sleeping Spaces For the Shelterless
7
Pioneering Apprenticeship Programs
Fifteen Restaurant Offers Opportunities to Disadvantaged Youth
6
Homeless Errand Services
Task Turtle Lets the Homeless and Elderly Claim Odd Jobs
5
Compassion Through Metaphors
Brazilian Organization Uses Comparisons for the Homeless
4
Indigent Interns
Elle Magazine Offers Internship to Homeless Girl
3
Female-Focused Enterprises
Women's Bean Project Creates Jobs with Jewelry & Gourmet Food
2
Gourmet Do-Good Brownies
Greyston Bakery is a Social Enterprise
1
Recyled Computer Abodes
Bill Thomson and Ken Gerberick Create a Tech-Inspired Homeless Shelter
Related Ideas
Tiny Home Kits
The Home Depot Getaway Pad Provides Extra Space Outside the Home
Multifunctional Micro-Camper Vans
The Toyoya Kayoibako Prioritizes Flexibility
Stress-Reducing Garbage Initiatives
The Hefty Brand Launches its 'Trash Time Out' Campaign
Japanese-Inspired Portable Tiny Homes
Baluchon Designs the Portable Bonzai Tiny Home
Ultra-Compact Tiny Houses
This Tiny House Design by Levi Kelly is Posited as the World's Smallest
Human-Quality Dog Beds
Hooman Debuted a First-of-Its-Kind Collection of Pet Beds
Idyllic Pet Pop-Ups
Uber Eats and PetSmart Created "The Best Pet House Ever"
Space-Expanding Tiny Homes
This Australian Tiny House Has a Slide-Out Mechanism to Increase Space
Modular Storage-Equipped Pet Sofas
The Conceptual Grid Sofa from Sunriu Design is Multifunctional
Refined Off-Grid Trailer Homes
The Living Vehicle GT39 is Chicly Appointed
Trauma-Informed Interior Designs
IKEA Introduces Trauma-Informed Tiny House for Seniors
Compactly Cubical Camping Shelters
The 'Maverick' Offers Durable Dwelling Both On & Off the Grid
Cat-Centric Compact Homes
This Japanese Dwelling Embraces Feline-Friendly Design Choices
Well-Appointed Floating Tiny Homes
The 'Fang Song' Floating Tiny Home is Solar-Powered
Pop-Up Solar Panel Campers
The Ford Transit Custom Nugget Camper Van Has Space for Five
Spaciously Cozy Homes
This Off-Grid Tiny Home Offers Efficiently Laid-Out Floorspace
Feline-Friendly Tiny Homes
This Luxurious Tiny Home Boasts a Number Of Cat-Centric Features
National Park-Inspired Tiny Homes
The Backcountry Tiny Homes 'Basecamp' Tiny House Has a Roof Deck
Off-Grid Timber Tiny Homes
The 'Horta' Tiny House Has 107-Square-Feet of Living Space
Christimas-Themed Pop-Ups
The Miracle Bar is Returning to Toronto This Festive Season
Emergency Shelter Robot Companions
The 'POWER HUG' Robot Concept Offers Warmth and Comfort
DIY Pretzel Cabins
Snyder's Pretzel Cabins Put a Salty Spin on Gingerbread Houses
Outdoor Dining Kits
Savour Helps Campers and Hikers Dehydrate Their Home-Cooked Meals
Meditative Trash Campaigns
Hefty's Trash Time Out Provides Support During the Holiday Season
High-Quality Electric Micro Homes
The Cosmic ONE Gets New Upgrades with Premium Components
Instant Noodle Advent Calendars
Koka's Unique Christmas Countdown Shares 12 Comforting Meals
Space-Conscious Compact Homes
Baluchon Introduces a Look at the Midgard Tiny Home
Refugee-Supporting Ice Creams
Ben & Jerry's Sunny Honey Home is Arriving for Refugee Week
Creative Play Pop-Ups
The Sharpie Studio Offered Opportunities for Creativity at SXSW
Separate Dwelling Tiny Houses
The Elba_91 Tiny House Has Two Living Spaces to Maximize Usage
Shutter-Accented Tiny Homes
The houzEKO Tiny House Offers All-Season Efficiency and Privacy
Luxe Home-Like Travel Trailers
The Living Vehicle HD24 Brings the Home to Off-Grid Locations
Weather-Resistant Tiny Homes
This Off-Grid Tiny House is Designed For Year-Round Enjoyment
Extreme Space-Saving Architecture
A 74-Square-Foot Apartment is Redefining Urban Living
Contemporary Sustainable Tiny Homes
The Cosmic ONE is Offered in Three Compact Home Layouts
Consolidated Camping Shelters
The 'Space Acacia' System is Hyper-Durable and Waterproof
Homeless-Supporting Accessories
Toques From The Heart Offers Cold Weather Accessories
Sustainable Off-Grid Minimal Cabins
Marc Thorpe Presents the Fremont House in New York
Plastic Intervention Programs
Cleancult's Program Helps Households Make Sustainable Changes
Minimal Mid-Century Hollywood Homes
Studio Qasabian Designs the Mulholland Home in LA
Flax Fiber Floating Homes
The Conceptual 'Blue Nomad' Floating Home is Sustainable
Architecture-Inspired QSR Ads
This New McDonald’s Campaign Encourages Eating at Home
Minimalist Adventurer Tiny Homes
The Noyer Tiny House On Wheels Prioritizes Sustainability
Unfurnished Camping Trailer Designs
Kworks and Lixil Join Forces on the Mio Space Trailer
Upgraded Off-Grid Tiny Homes
Minimaliste Designs the Nomad 30 Small Home with Improved Interior
Modern Amenity Micro Dwellings
The Little Tahoma Peak Tiny Home Has House-Inspired Finishings
Taco-Themed Dorm Makeovers
Taco Bell's Tacommodation Initiative Restyled a Student Flat
Creativity Time Capsules
Crayola's Campaign for Creativity Reunites Adults with Childhood Art
Two-Person Seesaw Benches
Movember's A Problem Halved Bench Inspires Mental Health Conversations
Compact Affordable Portable Homes
Stanley Tiny Homes Creates the Rogue Tiny House
Socializing-Centric Tiny Dwellings
The 'Buttercup' Tiny Home Lets You Have Guests Over
DIY Portable Electric Campers
Designer Quiet Nerd Creates a Unique New Electric Camper
Sustainable Portable Cat Shelters
The Batsy Cat Shelter by Burcu Nehir Tüm Offers Comfort
Cannabis-Branded Food Fundraising Campaigns
Curaleaf Launches Its 'Feed the Block' Campaign
Mobile All-in-One Ramen Restaurants
2m26 Designs a Compact Restaurant with Locally Sourced Timber
Compact Net-Zero Australian Homes
Anderson Architecture Designs the Pocket Passive House
Stuttering Awareness Initiatives
The Canadian Stuttering Association & john st. Launch a Campaign
Domestic Awareness Campaigns
IKEA Australia Presents the This is Not a Home Campaign
Delivery-Based Food Rescue Initiatives
Albertsons Companies and Uber Partner on Food Rescue
Complimentary Soup Trucks
The Good Humor Soup Truck is Sharing Free Soup in NYC
Micro-Living Portable Homes
Modern Tiny Living Creates the Buttercup Tiny Home for Hosting
Wasteful Shopping Billboards
Not On The High Street's Billboards Highlight a "Don't Gift Guide"
Meticulously Designed Guest Dwellings
Experiential Hospitality Brand arcana Has Introduced ARHOME
Pop Culture-Inspired Rentals
Airbnb Unveils the New 'Icons' Experiences for Short-Term Guests
Children's Food-Insecurity Campaigns
Subway's Never Miss A Lunch Campaign Is Set to Relaunch
Sustainably Handcrafted Bag Initiatives
The Tote of Hope Supports the Sheltersuit Foundation
Sustainable QSR Litter Adverts
McDonald's Malta Presents New Captivating Eco-Centric Campaigns
Collaborative Soup Branded Outerwear
Campbell’s x Parks Project Winter Warmth Collection is Cozy
Spacious On-the-Road Homes
Minimaliste Designs the Nomad Tiny House for Off-Grid Adventures
Rodent-Preventative Trash Bins
Group Project Designs a New BetterBin for New York City
Faceless Mother Campaigns
Peanut's Invisible Mothers Visualizes the Solitude Women Experience
Purpose-Driven Popcorn Snacks
Gourmet Popcorn is on a Mission to Create Jobs
Multipurpose Camping Shelters
The 'Nomad Cape' Serves As a Hammock, Groundsheet, Poncho & Shelter
Suicide Prevention Campaigns
To Write Love on Her Arms Launches Its 12th Annual Campaign
Digital Food Insecurity Platforms
Community Food Centres Canada Introduces Food Security Now
Urban Waste-Made Furniture
Javier Guzmán Cervantes and Ex Soup Join on an Exhibition
Educational Affordable Housing Initiatives
Habitat for Humanity Guelph Wellington is Uniting Youth
Living Condition Awareness Dollhouses
IKEA's UNWELCOME HOME Doll House Brings Awareness
Artful Illusory Ads
giffgaff's Large-Scale Illusion Artwork Challenges Inattentional Blindness
Wasteful Fashion Campaigns
Vestiaire Collective Reminded People to Shop Mindfully on Black Friday
Couch-Free Lifestyle Challenges
RXBAR's Bar the Couch Pledge Invites People to Get Moving in 2024
Hybrid Community Supermarkets
The After Market is a Grocery Store and a Food Pantry
Flying Umbrella Prototypes
This Hands-Free Device Hovers Above You to Protect From the Rain
Comforting Financial Pop-Ups
Experian's Credit Paws Café is a Place to Chat About Money Worries
Car-Free AR Lenses
Bolt's Feels Like Home Campaign Uses AR to Envision Car-Free Spaces
Loneliness-Combating Social Campaigns
Hinge Launches the New One More Hour Campaign and Fund
Charitable Cozy Furniture Lines
Design Within Reach & Knoll Textiles Boasted the Nick Cave Range
Social Justice Desert Campaigns
Ben & Jerry's 'Make Some Motherchunkin' Change' Campaign Debuted
Friendship-Focused Election Campaigns
Flash Pack Has Introduced The Friendship Bus
Prison-Converted Affordable Houses
CookFox Architects Showcases Plans to Create New Housing
Space-Saving Tiny Homes
Levi Kelly Designs a Space-Conscious Compact Home on a Single-Axle Trailer
Portable Pet Shelter Backpacks
The Travel Habitat Carrier is Designed with Multiple Functions
Vegan Food Banks
The Vegans of Los Angeles Food Bank is the First of Its Kind in the Country
Student-Focused Taco Kits
Taco Bell Launches the New 'S.O.S' Kit for College Students
Pizza Craving Campaigns
Domino's Pizza and WorkInProgress Launch the Emergency Pizza Campaign
Vacation Rental Campaigns
Airbnb Debuts an Animated Ad That Celebrates Booking a Place to Yourself
Global Affordable Housing Competitions
ICON Challenging Architects & Designers with Initiative 99
Millennial Homeowner Hubs
The Home Depot's New Homeowners Hub Equips Millennials with Resources
Compact Six-People Portable Homes
Mint Tiny House Company Designs the Loft Ruby Edition
At-Home Cocktail Campaigns
Gordon's Many Evenings In Campaign Spotlights At-Home Drinking
Food Insecurity-Targeting Initiatives
Hormel Foods Expanded Its Efforts During Hunger Action Month
Off-Grid Mountain Shelter Designs
Hugh Broughton Architects & Rick Owens Join for a Genius Show
Endangered Ice Cream Trucks
Climate Basecamp's Save the Flavors Brings Awareness to Climate Change
Park-Inspired Outdoor Fashion Capsules
Parks Project Sets out to Preserve National Parks
Camping Ice Cream Promotions
Dometic's First Night Out Entices New Campers to Get Outdoors
Large-Scale Meal Campaigns
The 1 Billion Meals Endowment Campaign Provides Food for Millions
Broken Bike Lock Furniture
Design Students Showcase the People and Places Exhibition
Resilience-Celebrating Cancer Campaigns
Extended Stay America Joins American Cancer Society
Leftover Sandwich Campaigns
The Hellmanns' 'Between 2 Slices' Campaign Tackles Food Waste
Eco Meal Program Initiatives
The Home Chef Food Rescue Program Redirects Surplus and Waste
Awareness-Raising Poverty Campaigns
Oxfam Australia Debuts a Platform Called 'Unaccept Inequality'
Social Housing Unit Blocks
Joan J Fortuny & Alventosa Morell Arquitectes Forms 54 Social Housing
Winter Clothing Drives
United Way Organizes an Initiative to Collect Winter Clothing for Seniors
Car Safety-Promoting PSAs
The Ad Council and NHTSA Have Launched a New Never Happens Campaign
Food Insecurity-Addressing Partnerships
TUMS and Second Harvest Address Food Insecurity in Canada
Billboard-Transformed Tent Shelters
Wunderman Thompson Morocco Creates the Life-Saving Outdoors
Inventive Charity Initiatives
Spark Financial's Annual Charity Initiative is for Autism Awareness
Carefully Vetted Homestays
Adventure Homestay Connects Travelers to Host Families
Climate-Friendly Waterfront Homes
From 4 to 1 Creates Three Pavilions in Copenhagen
Meal Donation Food Products
O Organics 'Fight Hunger, Serve Hope' Initiative Helps Kids in Need
Children's Illustrated Book Campaigns
The 'One in 100' Initiative Spotlights the Medically Complex
Charitable Hygiene Supply Initiatives
Purse Project Collects Personal Care Goods for Those in Need
Pre-Loved Clothing Markets
Charity Super.Mkt Will Take Over Fenwick's on Bond Street
Inclusivity-Centric Back-To-School Campaigns
Sistema Launched a Back-To-School Survey
Period Poverty Initiatives
The Period Promise Campaign Makes Basic Hygiene Goods More Accessible
California-Inspired Tiny Homes
Modern Tiny Living Designs the Buxton Home for Four People
Refugee-Supporting Workplace Initiatives
IKEA is Extending its Refugee Employment Pilot
Collaborative Homelessness Initiatives
AMH Joins HomeAid to Address the Homelessness Crisis
Affordable Back-To-School Events
Men's Closet Hosts Two Notable Events in Orlando, Florida
Children-Supporting Trust Initiatives
The Children who Trust Again Campaign Supports Abuse Victims
City-Wide Food Drive Events
VGTNYC Supports City Harvest Through a Food Drive Event
Shared Kitchen Initatives
Metro & Food Banks of Quebec Address Food Insecurity
Flexible Kitchen Rental Options
Maker Kitchens Teams Up with Blt Kitchens on Flexible Rentals
Accessible Home Services Marketplaces
Urban Company Recently Made Its Platform More Accessible
Complimentary Pride Month Meals
This Deliveroo Campaign Offers Free Meals to Homeless LGBTQ+ Youth
Handwashing-Promoting Campaigns
The Karamoja Government Debuts the 'I Wash, You Wash' Campaign
Diverse Leadership Inanities
Civic Nation Launched a New Initiative Dubbed the Change Collective
India-Based Senior Campaigns
The Alappuzha Social Justice Department Launches an Elderly Campaign
Crisis Response Services
Charity Launches a Free Community Crisis Response Service for Tragedies
Re-Branded Housing Nonprofit Organization
Bridges to Housing Stability Modernizes Its Brand Image